Description
The self-titled, sole album by the American AOR combo The Front was released on Refuge Records in 1984, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was produced by band members Tommy Funderburk (formerly of Airplay) and Bob Wilson (of Seawind fame). Trivia: The Front was the first CCM group to release a CD into the Christian marketplace (issued February 1985, about three months before Unguarded by Amy Grant, which was Word’s first CD release).
The mastermind behind The Front was drummer Bob Wilson who had made a name for himself leading the very popular progressive jazz rock/fusion group, Seawind. (In 1981 he also released a solo album with Seawind’s lead singer, his wife Pauline.) In the early 80’s Wilson met Airplay member/session vocalist, Tommy Funderburk. Wilson and Funderburk were writing songs for a new Seawind album when they decided these were meant for a solo effort and thus in 1984 they formed The Front. The band name actually was inspired by both Martin Luther’s “we should …stand in the front line” and Nelson Mandela’s “You take the front line when there is danger.” Wilson and Funderburk joined forces with Seawind’s keyboardist/saxophonist Larry Williams, former White Heart and by then prolific session guitarist, Dann Huff, as well as another amazing young guitar hero, Michael Landau. The Front recorded a self-titled album (with Dann Huff handling the guitars), followed by a US tour in 1984 and a European leg the next year. On the European tour the line-up was Funderburk on vocals, Wilson on drums, Seawind alums Buddy Nuanez and Ken Wild on bass and guitar respectively, and John Andrew Schreiner on keyboards.
In 1987 Wilson and Funderburk reformed their band, brought in Larry Williams (of Seawind Horns) on keyboards and saxophone, changed name to What If and released a self-titled album on RCA. Featuring musicians such as session guitarists Michael Landau, Michael Thompson, and Dan Huff, bassist Larry Klein, produced by Daft Punk’s recent Grammy winning engineer, Mick Guzauski on what became RCA’s first all digitally recorded album. (40:31 was a third band project featuring Bob Wilson as well as other members of Seawind.)
‘The Front’ is a sparkling debut from two great talents – session vocalist Tommy Funderburk and Bob Wilson, drummer, songwriter, and a co-founder of the seminal pop/jazz group Seawind – performing a sophisticated brand of high-tech ’80s pop with scintillating production. Although commercial viability versus creative expression could be debated here, the bottom line is that The Front has made an enjoyable, high quality record that is bound to grab the masses.
«Holy Light», «King of Glory», and «All Under Him» stand as cornerstone statements of The Front’s firm Christian, nearly creedal, belief. It wouldn’t be surprising if all three become standards on various Christian radio formats.
On the rest of ‘The Front’ the music remains easily palatable, while the lyrics deal with the issues of human alienation and sinfulness and God’s call to realistic salvation. «The Promise» deals in a thought-provoking way with the issue of abortion.
Backed by Larry Williams of Seawind on keyboards, Dann Huff (formerly of White Heart) on guitars, Dennis Bellfield on bass, and Kevin Clark on additional guitars, Funderburk and Wilson have made a grand first endeavor. Clearly produced and packaged for the young adult Christian, ‘The Front’ should ring a sympathetic chord with almost everyone. [Quincy Smith-Newcomb, CCM, December 1984]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-front/1146842430)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “It’s Hard To Take” – 4:44
A2. “Holy Light” – 4:31
A3. “All Under Him” – 4:23
A4. “King Of Glory” – 4:50
Side Two
B1. “The Promise” – 4:20
B2. “Silent Night” – 4:44
B3. “Tonight” – 4:27
B4. “How Long” – 4:09
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette (by Benson Music Group) and 12-inch vinyl LP. Soon re-issued on CD. (The Front was the first CCM group to release a CD into the Christian music market.)
A full-page advertisement for The Front’s self-titled album was featured in the October 1984 issue of CCM Magazine.
CREDITS. Produced by Tommy Funderburk and Bob Wilson.
Musicians: Tommy Funderburk, Bob Wilson, Larry Williams, Dann Huff, Dennis Bellfield, Kevin Clark, Tom Kelly, Linda McCreary, Tata Vega, Andraé Crouch, Phyllis St. James and Kristie Edwards.
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